Himalaya Adventure: DAY 6 WED. OCT. 8 PARO

This was a fairly leisurely day for most of us. However, seven of our group took a challenging hike up to the Tiger's Nest monastery, Bhutan's holiest sight. I thought about taking this hike, but it sounded just a bit too hairy to try it. After talking to the hikers, I was happy to hear that the hike, while a challenge, was certainly do-able. One of the worst feelings in the world is regret, and I regret my choice to not take the hike. But, it's done and no use crying over spilt milk. Lessons learned, though. Congrats to the hikers, they were happy and proud of their accomplishment, and have a memory for a lifetime.

As for us, our day was indeed nice and informative. We visited the base of the Tiger's Nest and peered up in astonishment at how a monastery could possibly be built on a sheer cliff face. It also made me admire our hikers' achievement. From there, we went to Bhutan's oldest temple but were not allowed to enter due to a special ceremony. The positive was the chance encounter with Bhutan's Queen Mother, who was attending the ceremony. We were not able to photograph the Queen Mother, but enjoyed a brief conversation with her. She is a charming and dignified lady and it was a pleasure to meet her, albeit briefly. From there, to the old and wonderfully ornate Paro Dzong, an old fortress/temple/administrative centre so typical in Bhutan. It was a beautiful building, in a wonderful and picturesque setting. We finished the afternoon wandering around Paro town, a small but lively place, doing a little shopping and conversing with some locals.